Project Development Associate

KOS International Talent Group; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

KOS International Talent Group seeks an experienced project developer to drive renewable storage initiatives across Southeast Asia. You will own the full development workflow, from site selection and land control to grid connection applications and environmental approvals, coordinating with cross‑functional teams.

You will lead land acquisitions, manage permitting across national and local authorities, and oversee tender submissions, bid strategy and post‑award negotiations, working closely with

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in the power or renewable energy sector, covering project development, technical delivery, project M&A, or engineering/project management.
• Demonstrable track record developing utility-scale renewable or storage projects in one or more Southeast Asian markets (Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore).
• Experience taking projects from origination through RtB; RtB to FID and COD, is a strong advantage.
• Direct experience of government tender/auction submission, PPA negotiation with a state utility or single buyer, or corporate PPA origination with industrial or data centre offtakers.

Responsibilities

• Own the full development workflow: site selection, land control, grid connection application, permitting and environmental approvals, technical studies, and coordination of local resources and consultants.
• Lead land acquisition — direct landowner and lessor negotiations, engagement of local land agents, and navigation of title, zoning and land-use conversion requirements.
• Manage grid connection processes with national utilities, system operators and regulators, working alongside internal technical teams and external consultants.
• Lead permitting and approvals across national, state/provincial and local authority levels, including environmental impact assessment and public consultation processes.
• Prepare and lead competitive tender and auction submissions — bid strategy, consortium formation, technical and commercial packages, bid bonds, and post-award negotiation.
• Provide inputs into the financial model and support due diligence, investment committee papers and lender engagement through to Financial Close.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Commercial judgement

Integrity & compliance

Job description

• Track national power development plans, procurement programmes and tender rules across priority ASEAN markets, and translate them into a prioritised country and pipeline strategy.
• Build and maintain the company's view on offtake structures and revenue models in each market — utility PPAs and tolling agreements with single-buyer offtakers, capacity and availability payments, ancillary services where markets exist, and corporate/third-party-access routes to industrial and data centre customers.
• Monitor grid constraints, curtailment, reserve margins and interconnection queues to identify where storage creates the most system and commercial value.

Origination & Screening

• Identify, screen and evaluate greenfield, brownfield and co-location storage opportunities, as well as early-stage and RtB project acquisitions.
• Use data-driven and GIS-based screening to target viable sites — proximity to substations and load centres, grid headroom, land availability, flood and seismic exposure, and permitting complexity.
• Build and maintain a live pipeline tracker, with clear stage-gates, risk flags and capital requirements per project.

Project Development Execution

• Own the full development workflow: site selection, land control, grid connection application, permitting and environmental approvals, technical studies, and coordination of local resources and consultants.
• Lead land acquisition — direct landowner and lessor negotiations, engagement of local land agents, and navigation of title, zoning and land-use conversion requirements. Handle customary and community land sensitivities where they apply.
• Manage grid connection processes with national utilities, system operators and regulators, working alongside internal technical teams and external consultants.
• Lead permitting and approvals across national, state/provincial and local authority levels, including environmental impact assessment and public consultation processes.
• Prepare and lead competitive tender and auction submissions — bid strategy, consortium formation, technical and commercial packages, bid bonds, and post-award negotiation.
• Provide inputs into the financial model and support due diligence, investment committee papers and lender engagement through to Financial Close.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Management

• Represent the company to key external stakeholders: ministries, energy regulators, state utilities and single buyers, state and provincial governments, local authorities, landowners, communities and industry associations.
• Structure and manage local partnerships and joint ventures, including navigation of foreign ownership rules, local partner selection, and local content requirements where these apply.
• Work closely with internal departments (engineering, procurement, finance, legal, operations) to identify and mitigate project risks and to maximise project value.
• Create and manage project development budgets and schedules, acting as internal project lead and managing external consultants and advisors.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 5 years in the power or renewable energy sector, covering project development, technical delivery, project M&A, or engineering/project management.
• Demonstrable track record developing utility-scale renewable or storage projects in one or more Southeast Asian markets (Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore).
• Experience taking projects from origination through to RtB. Experience carrying projects further, from RtB to FID and COD, is a strong advantage.
• Direct experience of at least one of: government tender/auction submission, PPA negotiation with a state utility or single buyer, or corporate PPA origination with industrial or data centre offtakers.

Technical Knowledge

• Working understanding of the key determinants of a constructable and bankable BESS project: siting, grid connection, augmentation strategy, degradation and warranty terms, safety and fire codes, and O&M structure.
• Familiarity with the regulatory and procurement frameworks in at least one core ASEAN market, and the ability to build that knowledge quickly in others.
• Practical understanding of land tenure, permitting and environmental approval processes in the region.

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional negotiation and stakeholder management skills across a wide range of counterparties — government officials, utility engineers, landowners, community representatives, investors and legal advisors.
• Comfortable operating in markets where rules are still being written, information is incomplete, and progress depends on relationships as much as on process.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to structure a business case, not just execute a workflow.
• High integrity and a firm understanding of compliance expectations when engaging with public officials.